Good Books For Girls?

Reading has always been a favorite past time of mine, and it's one of my favorite things to share with my children. I love to read to them and I love to see them love to read. Madeleine is an insatiable enthusiasts whereas for Beth it's currently more of a love/hate relationship (but it's coming around, slowly but surely!) and Mary is surprisingly willing to sit and listen when good stories, especially funny ones, are concerned.

This summer we developed a sophisticated, cutting edge family reading incentive program- a plastic jar and bowl of pom-poms. One pom-pom goes in the jar for every book someone in the family reads and when it is full...(drum roll please)... we go on a "family date" to the book store and each child is allowed to pick out a new book. Truth be told I neglected to determine an estimate of the number of pom-poms needed to fill that jar prior to launching the program. Had I employed such foresight, I can tell you I would've purchased larger pom-poms. It is likely that our summer reading program will extend far into the Fall before the jar is filled, but I am completely ok with that. It doesn't really matter when it gets filled, so long as it does.

In order to keep the fire burning until we achieve our lofty goal I am in need of LOTS of good reading material over the next few months and finding the right balance of interest and content is no easy feat for this crowd. Nothing too scary, too tense, or suspenseful, so mystery is out as well as science fiction and most fantasy (believe it or not, it's only the parents and not the children who have devoured Harry Potter in this household). Our avid readers are prone to vivid nightmares. Since many a night of sleep has been lost after one spooky story or dramatic movie scene, we tread carefully when making our media selections. Nothing too mean-spirited, bully-ish, or sarcastic. Our more sensitive and empathetic readers are easily disenchanted by such characters. The Diary of a Wimpy kid was closed before it was ever started around here. Nothing too boy-crazy, trendy, or faddish. Hannah Montana has her place, but it's not in my read-aloud bedtime books. It's all I can do to keep her TV show and her music from driving me bonkers.

Madeleine's been through Little House on the Prairie, Anne of Green Gables, and the Louisa May Alcott collection. Magic Tree House, the Pet/Rainbow/Weather/Jewel Fairies series have all been done, and so have Amber Brown, Cam Jansen, and Animal Ark. We have refused to let the Pigeon Drive the Bus and heard the demands of typing cows and superior ducks multiple times, while somehow Piggie and Elephant never fail to get a laugh no matter how many times we read the same story. Even so, summer is half over and we've got about 467 pom-poms to go.

So ladies (and gentlemen if that shoe fits), what do you suggest? I'm interested in your input on everything from picture books to early readers to (5th grade appropriate) novels and great family read-alouds. Do you have favorite audio books for long car rides? We've got a five-hour journey coming up and we'd love the company of your good friends. Funny, sentimental, or classic; what's your favorite, both past and present? I'd be grateful for your suggestions. In fact, for every worthy recommendation, we'll name a pom-pom after you.

It's a Boy!!

Yes, it's true. We are having a boy. Every time I make that statement I have the feeling that our world is about to enter a new dimension altogether unlike anything we have previously experienced in our realm of parenting. It's like we're being inaugurated into a club that we didn't know existed.

As we anticipated finding out the gender of our baby I was honestly 50/50. At times I would envision Luke enjoying father/son outings and imagine a little buddy tagging along with me like my younger brothers used to do. My heart melted at the thought of a little guy coming to join us. Then I would remember tiny pink bows and dainty dresses and sweet little giggles and I would long to have a baby girl all over again. So despite having all girls already, I really didn't have a preference.

Even while we waited in the waiting room at the imaging center I tried to imagine them telling me one way and then the other, just to test how I would really feel when I heard the final word. Finally, logic prevailed and I decided, "It's a girl. It's always a girl. Every time we do this I get all antsy about finding out what it's going to be and every time they say it's a girl." A cloud of pink flooded my mind. I got giddy at the thought of embroidered flowers and was overcome by an urge to unpack all the little dresses I still have stashed away. Grinning widely as they called our names I practically skipped back to imaging room. We chatted with the technician for a minute and then black and white blotches filled the screen in front of us. One look and before the technician could say anything I blurted out, "It IS a boy!!!" I was genuinely surprised and somewhat bewildered. I remember looking at Luke with a feeling of something like, "Well...what do we do now?" On the drive home we talked about names, redecorating, scouting, and even preparing him to serve an LDS mission, trying to take in all the new concepts and responsibilities that will become a part of our family life.

A boy. Half the time I still can't believe I'm even pregnant. The fact that he's a boy seems something like the icing on the cake at this whole surprise party. So far I don't feel a strong inclination to start accumulating baby things. In fact I'm more inclined to avoid it. I haven't been motivated to shop and or felt really drawn to little boy clothes. It's not an unattractive idea for me because he's a boy. It's because he's not here. I don't want clothes and cribs and car seats. I want a BABY. I want that moment when I am holding him and his warm fuzzy head is against my cheek and I know that he is ok and so am I and nothing else matters except that he is here. A conglomeration of unused items sitting idly in an empty room seems more like a taunting reminder of how long this whole process really takes rather than a confirmation that it is really happening. Why do that to myself?

Well, because he's a BOY, and he is coming to a home that is inundated with ruffles, sparkles, and every shade of pink imaginable. Really, there is not a blue item or even a gender-neutral tone in this entire house. He's going to get here sometime and when he does we ought to have something for him to wear, and having a few diapers around would probably prove beneficial too. Therefore, let the nesting begin...

So little baby, I will try to be patient over the next 20 weeks while we wait for you to grow. I will not complain that you are taking too long. I will not worry that something will interfere between now and that moment when you are completely mine. I will not get teary looking at your empty bed wishing I could already lay you in it. Instead I will busily create a baby haven of blue and beige without a single lace ruffle or bow. And then finally, we will welcome you home, and you will always be our little boy.

Got Gas?

Three times yesterday I thought I should stop for gas and didn't do it. Then this morning my empty light went on while I was driving to a doctor's appointment. Seeing it reminded me that I left my purse at home so I ran home, grabbed the purse, and hurried to get gas. So hurried that when I heard the pump shut off I didn't realize it was the pump next to me and not mine until after I pulled the nozzle out and sprayed my new shirt and the only pants that currently fit with gasoline. I had to drive to the doctor's with all the windows down despite that it was snowing because the fumes made my morning sickness even sicker. At the doctor's I tried to wash up in the public restroom - never a satisfactory experience, and I sat through the appointment with my coat zipped up all the way and my stinky shirt rolled up in my purse. Thank goodness no one lit a cigarette within 10 feet of me before I could shower and change. If only I'd gotten gas yesterday...

Expecting the Unexpected

They say the best surprises come in small packages. Our package measures about an inch and 1/2 , is around 9 weeks along, and is due approximately October 15! Yes, we are happily expecting again. This wasn't an opportunity that we thought we would have again given some health challenges that I've had the past few years, but I have been doing very well lately and it appears that the powers that be considered it well enough to bless us with another baby. We are all excited for this new dimension of our family life.

Mary talks to my tummy daily giving play-by-play accounts to the baby, "You're in the swimming pool baby. You're soaking wet." "Mom is eating baby. Here comes your food!" "You have the seat belt over you baby. You're safe in there." She consistently refers to the baby as "he." When Luke stopped her and asked, "Are you sure it's a 'he,' or could it be a girl?" she replied, "Oh no dad. I am DEFINITELY sure it's a boy...maybe." Beth and Madeleine like to follow along with the week-by-week development. At week 9 we read, 'This week your baby is the size of a grape," and Beth noted, "Don't grapes come in all different sizes??" She would like to name the baby something that starts with a B so she won't be the only one without an M name anymore, and favors "Bonnie" if it's a girl. Madeleine is admittedly apprehensive about having more little people around here ("Two little sisters can be hard enough!") but she is a good sport, a great helper, and already in love with the baby.

Meanwhile, I can track a scent like a bloodhound, gag on my favorite foods, and feel like I could sleep 12 hours a day at least if only the day would let me. Nothing but perfectly normal bizarre behaviors for this stage of the game, and Luke is taking very good care of me. On my better days I enjoy complimenting myself on such achievements as managing to get to the bank AND the grocery store in the same day. On my bad days I am grateful to have a good reason for a bad day.

I marvel at the wisdom with which Heavenly Father guides our lives. So often I am certain that I know what I need, believing that I am in charge around here, and He patiently albeit sometimes painfully reminds me that He knows a little bit more about the grand scheme of things than I do. I trust Him, and I thank Him for having blessed me with the things I need and want the most, just when I least expected it.

Happy Valentines Day

Our Valentine's celebration had three lovely phases this year. On Friday morning the girls giddily pranced to school loaded with Valentine cards and treats to share, and came home laden with more cards and treats than they knew what to do with. I love to see them excited about holidays and traditions!

On Saturday, flowers arrived at the door and mom and dad went out for a gourmet Italian dinner followed by visiting with friends at the church dance (which is more of a social for non-dancers like us:). I love being with Luke no matter what we are doing, and I love that we're in love.

On actual Valentine's Day we had our first ever family dinner in the dining room and even took some of the formal china out of the original wedding-gift packaging for the occasion. The girls each received a kit for growing an amaryllis with a heart shaped card that said, "We love watching you grow," from mom and dad. I love being home together as a family. Pot-luck dessert with cousins followed at the Spangler's house that evening and according to one little person, the basement was "exploding with kids." I love that we have cousins so close by and so much family to share fun times with.

Monday was President's Day (and no longer officially part of our Valentine's celebration, but still lovely all the same) and there was no school, so we spent the day at home relaxing, decorated our flower pots and planted our amaryllis bulbs, and ended the day with a "pizza-picnic" in the family room while watching "Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs." The kids liked it, although Beth was put out that it deviated from the book:) I love having a day off now and then to spend however we want.

Sure, I totally blew my diet and the house is a mess and I'm still picking up candy wrappers, but after a weekend full of doing things I love with the people I love, how can I not love Valentine's Day?

PS. I love this picture

Making "Melonade" (October, 2009)

I've decided to start a separate blog to chronicle our "adventures" with Beth having dyslexia. There's only one post so far - I've got a lot of catching up to do. Feel free to read along at http://adventuresofadyslexiamom.blogspot.com

One Day

One day I lay looking out at the sleeting gray sky listening to you coughing from the other room.

What will we do on a day like today, with no sunshine, no friends, no going out to play?

If only we could get away, somewhere warm with lots of sun, where you could run.

We could leave today.

One day to get there, one day to play, one day to come home.

Is it really it worth it for just one day? Yes, it is.

On the plane, on the way, with you beside me. Coloring, singing, holding hands, playing games, watching movies. This is actually fun, to have you here by me on the plane today.

Here we are. Lots of colored lights, the ocean rolling to the shore, all of us together in our room.

And now it's morning, a brand new day. A day with no hurrying and no homework. A day with no rushing and no time table. A day with no coughing and no crying. A day to feel the sand, smell the ocean, hear you squeal, and see you smile. Just you and me and the sun and the sand and the pool, all day.

One more frolic in the ocean, one more splash in the pool, then hop in the shower. We're going home today. Back on the plane you sleep on my shoulder. I hold hands with your dad. I watch you play your games and you sing so loud the people near us smile. Home so soon, but it seems a little easier now. And in my heart I hold your smile, and the warmth, and the fun to look back on fondly one day.